Glycerol or glycerine (Propane-1,2,3-triol) is a naturally occurring colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is a sweet-tasting and non-toxic triol compound. It occurs in nature as a triester in oils and fats. Oil and fats are triesters of glycerol with carboxylic acids. The higher fatty acid may be such as palmitic acid (C 15 H 31 COOH), steric acid (C 17 H 35 COOH), or oleic acid (C 17 H 33 COOH). A glyceride may be represented by the general formula. Glycerin is a thick, clear liquid with no fragrance. It is used in cough syrup, liquid medicines, skin care products, and other products. Learn how glycerin works as a humectant, skin protectant, and laxative, and what are its safety issues. It is colourless and viscous. It is non-toxic, odourless and has a sweet taste. It is widely used as a sweetening agent, solvent, pharmaceutical agent or emollient. It is miscible with water. Glycerin is produced through saponification, hydrolysis, and transesterification of triglycerides. Synthetic glycerol can be produced by propylene. Glycerin is a type of carbohydrate known as a sugar alcohol or a polyol. This odorless liquid has a sweet taste and a syrupy consistency. While glycerin occurs naturally in plants through the...
